Nintendo also earns very high marks for Smooth Moves' multiplayer, a collection of mini games that rivals Wii Sports. Although not nearly as competitive as a rousing game of tennis, these games will definitely keep WarioWare inside Wiis long after its goodies have been uncovered. In Darts (2-4 players), gamers thrust the remote forward to earn more points than their competitors. In Bomb, they pass a live, explosive Wii remote back and forth, taking turns at random micro games until someone loses and subsequently explodes. Survival (2-12 players) works much the same way, except people fall from the sky instead of blow up. Another game, Lifeline, challenges gamers to a race, the one that completes the most games (and earns the most points) reaches the finish line. The prize? The privilege of literally cutting an opponent's rope, causing them to plummet into the water. Over time, other games become unlocked and provide a few more hours of enjoyment.
So too does the game's funky design. Smooth Moves features a simple, yet attractive 2D style. The colors pop in both standard and high definition, and the cut scenes that play before each stage look fantastic. Furthermore, all of the characters ooze with personality. Fans of the series will be pleased to discover that in addition to Wario, old favorites like Orbulon, Dribble & Spitz, Mona and Jimmy T. return, as well as some new faces Penny Crygor and Young Cricket. 9-Volt also pops up with a brand new collection of Nintendo-themed micro games that span multiple systems. Gamers will put out fires in Super Mario Sunshine, knock over a barrel in Metroid Prime, score coins in the original Super Mario Bros. and even battle a gigantic Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.) in a Super Nintendo-inspired Star Fox level.
Finally, players may insert themselves into the action, providing they created a Mii. At the outset, the game asks people to select one Mii, and from there, the character shows up in various micro games. A quick trip to the Factory (Options) allows players to change their selected Mii and multiple Miis may be chosen in the multiplayer games.
On the downside, the remote occasionally fails to read movement, resulting in botched attempts, and the game contains less content than previous WarioWares. Furthermore, and this may be good or bad depending on a gamer's opinion, players don't need to abide by the forms in order to complete the game. With experimentation, players will figure out that they don't actually have to place the remote to the tip of their noses to pick up apples or lay it on a flat surface to mimic answering a phone. For most micro games, gamers may sit in chairs and casually wave the remote around.
In comparing Smooth Moves to the rest of the WarioWare video games, the Game Boy Advance edition, Twisted!, remains Nintendo's greatest achievement, thanks to spot on controls as well as a host of unlockable content. Despite this, Smooth Moves stands out as a fine addition to the series as well as a must play for all Wii owners, as it offers globs of fun for anyone daring enough to pick up a remote. With that being said, it will be interesting to see when the company creates another WarioWare, as it tends to release one after it's created innovative hardware. However, considering the overall quality of the franchise, whatever Nintendo comes up with will almost certainly be fun and bizarre.
Final Score: 8 (out of 10)
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